I Was Once Known King

Vampires, a prideful race and far relatives to the demons. They are known for their powerful blood magic and enhanced bodies, having multiple records of murder and terrorism throughout the continent due to their lust for blood. Yet now, a group of vampires, the same race that preys for humans like livestock are currently kneeling in front of one.

"Tell me about this cult of yours.", I asked while looking down at them.

Since I've already gotten myself involved with these people, there's no telling what they'll throw at me so I'll need to gather all the information I can get from these people.

"Did you expect us to tell you with just this measly pressure. Even if you kill us, the cult would know and hunt you later on!", she laughs.

I sighed to her response

"Crazy bastards... that's fine. None of them would be able to touch a single hair of mine if this is the power level of their people.", I respond.

"Anyway, let me show you a trick I've unlocked after reaching the second rate warrior level. It's a trick that you vampires should be familiar with.", I released the pressure off of them.

"W-what are you talking about-", she stops.

As she saw strings made from blood connected to my fingertips and the other end connected to the hearts of her subordinates. Her subordinates started to appear thinner and thinner by the second, as if their vitality was being sucked off from them. As her subordinates dropped to the ground lifeless, she fell down in defeat.

"How... That's the vampire's inherent ability! How is a human able to conjure blood magic!?", she shouts.

I slowly walked up to her and lifted up her chin.

"If you let go of your past relations and serve me, I'll show you the correct way of the vampire.", I extended my hand.

...

As she accepted my hand in silence, her body started to get filled up by an enormous amount of mana, that she was about to burst and explode.

"What the!", I look at her form.

Before she could explode, I trapped her inside a multi-layered barrier to contain the explosion. As she exploded, it caused a large vibration that shook the forest.

"The scent of her blood are attracting the beasts!"

As the ground shook from the numbers of beasts rushing to the area, I immediately jumped up the trees and watched the beasts running towards me.

"What a feast to behold, all your souls are mine!", I lick my lips.

As they all gathered under me, I leaped up to the sky and gathered energy from the surroundings.

"Light up the darkness: Sun Burst!"

A mini-sized sun appeared at the sky and fell at the monsters, burning them to ashes as they wailed in pain.

I came down and gathered up all the souls in the vicinity with the miniature sized black hole, merged it and swallowed it whole. The amount of souls consumed was enough to break me through the barriers and instantly jump me to the level of a 1st rate warrior. 

"RAAAAHH!"

I shouted in pain as my dantian expanded, allowing my body to contain more energy and use more advanced and destructive techniques in the future. At this stage, it was the level of power when I started to face noble ranked demons on equal footing. If it were to be evaluated in a mage's terms of level, a 1st rate warrior would be on the level of a 6 circle mage.

"Haha, to think I'd reach this level so soon. With this power, I shouldn't be threatened unless I encounter a monster of grandmaster level or somebody of equal power."

I muttered to myself.

With no second to waste, I continued my journey back to the empire to hand over the paper with the proof of completion. I immediately went to Maria and handed over the paper.

"To think you'd actually complete it sir Angel.", she said in a happy tone.

She then approved the paper as completed and placed it aside. I returned back to the DragonWatch Inn in the afternoon to rest after picking up a new quest paper. The next quest required porters for veteran adventurers who were going to attempt an unexplored dungeon. Due to the dungeon being unexplored, it was labeled as dangerous due to the unknown monsters that lurks within.

"This'll be good experience for me...", I grinned at the thought of it

I ate first before I rested till the next morning came. I arrived at the dungeon site hidden within the near forest not too far from the kingdom's walls. The party consisted of three swordsmen, two tanks, an archer, a mager and two other porters just like me.

"Since everyone is here, I assume I don't need to explain what needs to be done. The porters stay at the back unless you want to die that is...", the swordsman at the front stated as he slightly glared at us.

We entered the dungeon's dark hallway that was barely lit up by the torches hanged on the walls. The party did well as we encountered skeletons along the way but as we gradually went down lower deep in the dungeon, the skeleton's level went up as well. The porters with me started to have doubts about their safety as they saw the struggles that the party started to face.

"Mage, archer! Cover us!", one of the three swordsmen said.

The three swordsmen along with the tanks started to struggle against the headless skeleton, a Dullahan.

"Why did the magic spells stop! Tesha!", he angrily shouted.

"I-I've run out of mana...", she gasped for air.

"Judging by her magic power, she is at the level of a 3-circled mage at most.", I muttered to myself.

"Tesha!", he shouted once again.

"Sir, we've run out of mana potions...", the porter beside me said worriedly

The Dullahan started to push them back with its sword skills. I reached out my astral energy to Tesha's body which helped her regain her mana and amplified the output of her spells.